Former Eureka development official appointed to county planning post; supervisors vote 3-2 to choose Kevin Hamblin

Arcata resident Kevin Hamblin, who served as a Eureka development official for 25 years, is set to take the reins as the new Humboldt County director of planning and building in about three weeks.

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 in closed session Friday to select Hamblin. Second District Supervisor Clif Clendenen and 3rd District Supervisor Mark Lovelace cast the dissenting votes.

Clendenen and Lovelace said they couldn't go into detail about the closed session proceedings, but said their votes speak for themselves.

"I wish our new planning director and the county the best of luck," Clendenen said. "We have a lot of work to do."

Lovelace expressed similar sentiments.

"It's unfortunate that our board wasn't able to agree on who was the best person for this position, but Mr. Hamblin is certainly well-qualified and I trust in his ability to manage the department," Lovelace said.

Residents and interest groups have criticized the department and its previous director, calling for greater transparency from the county. County officials declined to disclose the number of candidates who interviewed for the position.

Hamblin said he's aware of some previous issues with the department, and he is looking forward to starting his new position Nov. 13. He said he'll be asking county officials for their feedback before setting any concrete department goals.

"I'll be meeting individually with each of the supervisors to see what they'd like to see happen with the department," Hamblin said.

Before his appointment, Hamblin served as Del Norte County's community development director -- a department which included the planning division, building inspection, the engineering division, environmental health, code enforcement and the roads division -- for three years.

Prior to his time in Del Norte, Hamblin was Eureka's community development director for 25 years. His department handled permitting for the Bayshore Mall, according to a county press release. Since the mall is located in the coastal zone, its development required an environmental impact report -- one of the first completed by the city.

Hamblin also directed permitting for the Target store, which is located in Eureka's coastal zone. He organized the city's Historic Preservation Commission, and was involved with the Eureka Boardwalk from start to finish, the release said.

Hamblin said his experience in the region will help him as he starts his new job.

"My time in Eureka has given me the opportunity to be fairly familiar with some of the developers," Hamblin said.

Fourth District Supervisor and board Chairwoman Virginia Bass said Hamblin possesses an extensive professional background in planning and building on the North Coast. She said the board has taken its vote and the supervisors will move forward and work together.